Volunteering / Club Duties
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14020
Printed Date: 05 Aug 25 at 4:15pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Volunteering / Club Duties
Posted By: turnturtle
Subject: Volunteering / Club Duties
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 10:15am
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This article from the Guardian is sobering reading - despite my own view that post-pandemic working practices with added flexibility and more free time, might actually signal a return to community activities like helping out at a sailing club, it doesn't seem to be the case: http://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/02/volunteering-in-sharp-decline-in-england-since-covid-pandemic" rel="nofollow - Are duties still a bugbear for club managers and committees?
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Replies:
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 12:01pm
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Fair article, (Guardian will always manage to find something negative to say about royalty), relevant facts shocking.
My old club getting more boats out cruising backwards and forwards than when trying to run racing, no need for volunteers. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: The Moo
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 12:06pm
| It can be difficult for us at times, but not a complete ball ache by any means. The difficulty seems to be getting new members to buy into the concept of voluntarily contributing to the running of the Club. |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 12:10pm
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Will a sailing club survive a total loss of racing? ------------- Robert |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 12:16pm
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potentially yes - the value offering is real estate and easy access to water close to home.... camaraderie can follow too, (club spirit - I guess) but this doesn't need formal racing as exponential growth in cycling and running clubs demonstrate. This is especially notably given the results uploaded the day after most club races (handicap races) have little bearing on the enjoyment in the actual moment
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Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 12:57pm
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In the context of the Big Help Out. Apart from supporting my sailing club (which is really self interest) and my trade organisation, I also look out for the house of my second home next door neighbours and keep an eye out for my 94 year old next door neighbour. I say this, not because I expect a clap on the back, but I really don't need some pious busy body telling me how I need to support the community. However I do suspect that sailing clubs need to plan for a future with less volunteers, but I think that this is more to do with an aging demographic. ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: Mark Aged 42
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 1:16pm
| Not sure the aging demographic is the cause. I suspect at any sailing club the hard core of volunteers are in their sixties because they dont have children at home and they do have the time, energy and experience to handle the voluntary jobs. |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 2:00pm
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Not doing anything for anyone else at the moment.I always contribute to the breakfast club every time I go to Gregg's and get a lot of books from charity shops. I work and pay tax and national insurance, that's probably a help. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 3:05pm
yep, I know what you mean - it's more of an observation on the stats that Guardian article quotes. On a personal level, stuff I've done I don't expect a pat on the back for either - but I rarely pay for beers on bike packing expeditions (pure self interest, a bit like duties) and as for the Ukrainian refugees and homeless people stuff, I wish I could continue to the same level of support, but that's no longer feasible... I'll still do what I can though.
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Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 6:07pm
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https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/What-would-community-do-without-volunteers-49037.php
American publication, but be the same here. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: Dakota
Date Posted: 04 May 23 at 8:01pm
Totally agree  ------------- Duncan D-zero 315 |
Posted By: H2
Date Posted: 05 May 23 at 7:58am
The clubs that I have been part of the racing was critical to me joining and being willing to volunteer. Perhaps that's because I love racing and choose the club I join based on who and how many regularly race and I realise that there is a whole other dinghy cruising scene which might be a mainstay of many other clubs that I am very unlikely to consider joining....but for me I doubt the clubs I have been a member of would survive without racing. ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 05 May 23 at 9:52am
Stating the obvious here but unfortunately the world is changing. One of the indicators that some professionals have been watching is the rise of individualism.- individualism1. a social or cultural tradition, ideology, or personal outlook that emphasizes the individual and his or her rights, independence, and relationships with other individuals. Compare https://dictionary.apa.org/collectivism" rel="nofollow - collectivism . 2. in ethical and political theory, the view that individuals have intrinsic value. This implies that the unique values, desires, and perspectives of individuals should also be valued in their own right. Thus, individualism often manifests itself as an approach to life that emphasizes the essential right to be oneself and to seek fulfillment of one’s own needs and desires. —individualist n. —individualistic adj. Individualistic Practices and Values Increasing Around the WorldGlobal Increases in Individualism
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Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 05 May 23 at 12:44pm
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"Re-establishing volunteer and giving levels will require ‘active and co-ordinated efforts’, think tank warns | Third Sector" https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/re-establishing-volunteer-giving-levels-will-require-active-co-ordinated-efforts-think-tank-warns/management/article/1787403 ------------- Robert |
Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 05 May 23 at 12:48pm
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Read in the Scottish Herald, pensioners contribute over 48 billion pounds to the UK economy, doing jobs for nothing, from child care to helping neighbours etc. Country would be in a bad way financially if it had to be paid for. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: The Moo
Date Posted: 05 May 23 at 3:04pm
In our Club virtually every Committee post is held by someone who currently races on a pretty regular basis. I think without the racing, the recreational sailing, such that it is, would not happen. |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 05 May 23 at 4:55pm
Same with us, though in part because when the committee was not populated by the racing fleet things went awry, so now all key roles taken by the regular racers. ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: eric_c
Date Posted: 05 May 23 at 6:43pm
Firstly 'duties' are not the same as 'volunteering'. Club 'duites' are part of the deal you make when you join a club or take part in the activities or whatever they do at your club. It's part of the cost of being in the club going sailing etc etc. Volunteering is when you do something for no direct return, like working in a charity shop, conservation work or whatever. Secondly the people quoted in the grauniad are moaning about volunteering, while they draw 6 figure salaries from 'volunteering' 'charities'. It's sometimes people like that who put people off actual volunteering. A big part of the problem in the UK is that we have way too many charities and way too many snouts in the trough. I'm currenty a member of two Sailing Clubs, a 'local boat owners' association' and a 'one-builder boat owners' association'. The two clubs are doing OK, duties not much of a problem, one club is notable for having lots of volunteers, including a lot of parents of kids who sail. Both are 'racing focused'. The local boat owners association gets people to volunteer for things like maintenance, harbour de-littering, organising socials and visitor events. All these bodies are relying on people putting in far more than their 'duty' to organise things. Some committee posts can be hard to fill, I don't think that's changed much since I was first on a committee in about 1980? But mostly there are enough people willing to do what's needed.
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Posted By: Old bloke
Date Posted: 06 May 23 at 8:57am
| Well said Eric. I tried writing something similar but just came over as a mad Daily Express reader |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 06 May 23 at 10:10am
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Good points well made Eric - although I’d suggest there’s generational differences in play - ‘duties’ may seem like a far more onerous term to a newbie than a ‘volunteer rota’ …
I’m also not sure if there’s actually a better/more appropriate wording from other organised / semi-organised sports? Certainly from fired s who play football and padel, it seems the ‘duties’ fall on whoever are the admin on the associated WhatsApp group! |
Posted By: eric_c
Date Posted: 06 May 23 at 11:01am
The word 'rota' is probably sufficient, it generally implies being on a list of people who have to do something, i.e. it's implicitly a 'duty', an obligation. Collins' Dictionary: A rota is a https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/list" rel="nofollow - list which gives https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/detail" rel="nofollow - details of the order in which different people have to do a particular https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/job" rel="nofollow - job . Probably best to make plain to 'newbies' that there is a commitment to a rota. 'Duties' in my clubs are pleasant, sociable half days at the club. Some members who are not obliged to do them, because they are only associates who don't have a boat at the club, volunteer for them. The members appreciate that.
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Posted By: The Q
Date Posted: 06 May 23 at 1:05pm
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Both my summer and winter clubs are entirely volunteer run and that includes the officers of the club, and instructors in our sailing school with up to 80 children and the odd adult learning . The only paid person is the cleaner who comes in the morning after sailing.
https://www.horning-sailing.club/ https://www.sfsc.co.uk/ It is expected of both club each member does a duty, T bar, rescue boat, running the line, many others do club committee, club maintenance and assist in other ways. I do rescue boat ( May 14th this year) and this year I'll do rescue boat for five mornings of the seven days of this years regatta week. Then there is the 3 Rivers Race https://www.3rr.uk/, there are around 100+ boats entering each year, so nearly 300 competitors. That requires, A dozen guardships with rescue boat each with at least 4 persons on board. There are about a dozen line crew, race officers, time keepers, radio operators, computer operators. Then the galley staff minimum of two staff on at any time for 36 hours with more at peak times. In all there are about 100 volunteers. Giving up 36 hours of their time. Also I volunteer here., https://www.radarmuseum.co.uk/ for one day a week only the manager is paid, everyone else is a volunteer. Come to that I'm a member of http://broadlandmodelrailwayclub.co.uk/ which if you've looked at it, has a show in 4 weeks time, the entire club volunteers to run that. Plus the obvious duties of chairman, secretary treasurer , show manager, etc. Whilst all could do with more volunteers, so far all these groups have still got enough volunteers to run their events. ------------- Still sailing in circles |
Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 07 May 23 at 7:46am
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I don't think a club can ever have enough volunteers. The ongoing problems at most of the clubs I visit is that the volunteers are largely the same people who were volunteering 10, 15 even 20 years ago. The roles change hands, but the faces are largely the same even to the point that people move clubs - for whatever reason - and get roped in at the new place very quickly. Culture has changed but the 90's early retirees can't do it any more. They've done clubs all over the country in a variety of sports and pastimes proud, but in the long term have they really done us a favour?
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Posted By: 423zero
Date Posted: 07 May 23 at 9:34am
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Long term volunteers have done is a huge favour and hopefully people will follow in their footsteps. Half the sailing clubs in the UK would be gone without them.
Pensioners run neighborhood watch by me, since it started we have had no burglaries and a big reduction in people calling at the doors, they will also take in parcels, give keys to contractors. ------------- Robert |
Posted By: Old bloke
Date Posted: 07 May 23 at 9:37am
| In my club, and hopefully elsewhere, it's the next couple of generations of retirees that have taken over. The only problem I see is that there is a short spell between no longer fit to sail and dead .Actually I am not sure it is a problem as such but you don't have that group of old boys bumbling around just happy to be involved. |
Posted By: boatshed
Date Posted: 08 May 23 at 10:49pm
My folks are of a generation that are still enjoying, albeit very elderly, a very long retirement of 25 to 30+ years. Which, I will add, requires a lot of input from their ageing children. They had/have loads of 'retired' time to devote to hobbies, sports, clubs etc. Their children won't have this time. Moving forward, clubs depending on volunteers will suffer. ------------- Steve |
Posted By: 2547
Date Posted: 09 May 23 at 7:03am
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Are there any clubs that don’t depend on volunteers? Whilst some clubs may pay cleaners, secretaries and someone to staff the galley the running of every club I’ve been to is by volunteers.
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Posted By: Do Different
Date Posted: 09 May 23 at 7:34am
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As Eric said, duties are part of the "contract" when you join a club and as far as volunteering goes to my mind that is also part of an implied contract. Club: my definition . A group of like minded people joining together for mutual benefit. Simple as that. You can chew on all you like but if you don't want to join in, pay for a fully staffed commercial organisation and see how the numbers add up for that. |
Posted By: Old bloke
Date Posted: 09 May 23 at 9:22am
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It all depends on how long it takes people to go from fit to dead. Until recently UK health statistics were showing that people were staying fitter for longer and taking the same amount of time to fade away and die. Of recent years the length of infirmity has been increasing again. Probably mostly due to obesity and diabetes. Whether this is going to be significantly true for us healthy sporty types time will tell.
Obviously there is a big difference between statistics and the individual's experience |
Posted By: eric_c
Date Posted: 09 May 23 at 6:56pm
I don't see how that's relevant. Most of the people doing more than their 'rota duty' towards my clubs are no less fit than some people sailing Lasers.
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Posted By: Sheetpuller
Date Posted: 08 Jul 23 at 2:09pm
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I'm probably old enough to be considered 'old school', and far too old to be commenting on the future of club sailing - that will be determined by the youngsters who are currently junior members. Received wisdom says that the majority of them will leave sailing as tertiary education and the struggle to start a career and maybe a family take precedence, but that some will return once those factors are settled and personal finances allow. The reference in an earlier post to the rise of individualism is relevant here. Like most of my age group (70+) I started sailing in the front end of someone else's boat and still believe this is the best way to get started, but over the years we've all seen the rise and rise of the singlehander which I guess is one example of the individualist mindset; most kids these days seem eschew crewing and want to start off in oppies or toppers. How that will affect clubs in the future is anyone's guess. Certainly starting as a crew fostered teamwork which I believe carries over into helping one's club run; doing duties and volunteering for all the odd jobs that need doing aroud a clubhouse and dinghy park emphasises the feeling of being a part of the club community, of being a member - and thats the point I'm trying to make. To be a member means 'to be a part of' and almost by definition requires some input in terms of doing duties and volunteering. Its a two-way relationship in which we both give and take; its the model that sports clubs of all kinds have run and survived on for years. The alternative is for clubs to employ people to act as race officer, to man the safety boat, to run the bar, to do the admin and to maintain the dinghy park. At this point the club doesn't have any members; if all you're doing is paying a membership fee (vastly inflated to take into account all those salaries) then you're not a member, you're a customer. Personally speaking, I'm a customer in almost every aspect of life; a customer of my bank, my garage, every shop I step into and if I want a pint then of my local too. I certainly don't want to be stuck in a one-way customer relationship with my sailing club as well. But whether the future members I outlined above will make that distinction remains to be seen. ------------- I'm not arguing. I'm explaining why I'm right. Merlin Rocket 3545 - 'Smooth Operator' Sprint 15 1342 - 'Still Crazy' |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 09 Jul 23 at 6:48am
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As an observation as someone restoring a Mirror dinghy to introduce a grandchild to dinghy sailing and racing this summer, it is seems quite hard to integrate a two person boat in a club that is set up for junior sailing in roto mounded single handers … we will be very much doing our own thing. Anyway off to the race box of a Merlin event this morning reliant on 120+ volunteer slots
------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: Dakota
Date Posted: 09 Jul 23 at 5:26pm
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Hope it went well . ------------- Duncan D-zero 315 |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 09 Jul 23 at 8:41pm
They were very well behaved ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 11 Jul 23 at 2:40pm
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Quick question to anyone who reads this: Do you consider it appropriate to thank volunteers for volunteering? or... Do you consider it something that should be done by all members as a matter of duty and therefore require no thanks? |
Posted By: Noah
Date Posted: 11 Jul 23 at 3:16pm
I think it’s just good manners to thank those who have run the racing, for example. It is also nice to receive thanks and/or compliments having run racing for a day. How are a race team to know the event could have been improved if no-one tells them? There are, of course, nice ways and less nice ways of doing this! Thanks for e.g. a work party normally come in the form of a supplied lunch or similar. In my previous class a whip round was made to raise some cash to buy goodies for the trolley crews who were generally the youngsters from the host club. ------------- Nick D-Zero 316 |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 11 Jul 23 at 3:53pm
My thoughts exactly. Sadly I have heard the other option voiced several times over the years. IMO being miserly of spirit is not a good look. |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 12 Jul 23 at 8:39am
Yes, 110%. Of course you should thank the race crew and all the other volunteers (not individually I hasten to add  ) for giving up their day/weekend to facilitate you going sailing. As Noah says it's basic good manners and costs you nothing.------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 12 Jul 23 at 10:35am
False question. Conventional UK good manners is to thank anyone who gives you good service even if it's part of their job. |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 12 Jul 23 at 10:59am
 You'd think. Sadly the reality is slightly different. I guess we all have our own interpretation of what good manners means |
Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 12 Jul 23 at 1:24pm
| That's because bad manners is a characteristic we may easily recognise in other people yet never suffer from ourselves... |
Posted By: NicolaJayne
Date Posted: 12 Jul 23 at 9:15pm
exactly, we thank bus drivers as we alight the bus if it;s front entrance bus - obviously slightly difference if it;s dual door otr the rare occasionas the rearmost doors on a borismaster are in use , the counter staff at the take away when they hand over your order ,, |
Posted By: Late starter
Date Posted: 12 Jul 23 at 9:54pm
Interesting point. I've been thanked for running OOD, PRO, or safety duties but in my experience committee duties can be thankless.
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Posted By: JimC
Date Posted: 13 Jul 23 at 2:19pm
It is interesting isn't it. We thank people at point of delivery as it were where we see them in action, but if its something done out of sight like a committee meeting then I think by and large it happens much less. In my head I find it natural to thank the people on the Committee boat, say as I pass through the finish line, but it feels rather odd to consider when I might thank the person who maintains the damn boat so its there for the RC. The only time it feels as if it might be appropriate is applause at an AGM. Probably futile to look for too much logic and consistency in social custom. But bearing in mind the care and feeding of volunteers is one of the most crucial aspects of club management maybe we should think about this more. |
Posted By: turnturtle
Date Posted: 13 Jul 23 at 3:31pm
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I thought the raising a hand in return for a hoot as one passed through the finish line was all part of the habitual group-think at the good end of the sailor scale - irrespective of being the first or the last boat through? That's what set us apart from football fans boo-ing and chucking bananas....
If the finish boat is in earshot, nothing wrong with a 'thank you' too. |
Posted By: drifter
Date Posted: 13 Jul 23 at 7:32pm
I've done Commodore, Vice and Rear, and Sailing Sec twice, and only once was i not thanked at the AGM. OOD duties somebody always says thanks. I always make a point of thanking the volunteer galley staff, big job and frankly between them all they could open a restaurant. Of course volunteers need appraciated (unless they set a rubbish course ;-) ) ------------- Stewart |
Posted By: Sam.Spoons
Date Posted: 13 Jul 23 at 8:37pm
Even if they set a rubbish course  ------------- Spice 346 "Flat Broke" Blaze 671 "supersonic soap dish" |
Posted By: eric_c
Date Posted: 14 Jul 23 at 6:49pm
It's worth thanking everyone who's made an effort. That includes people doing duties, people helping ad hoc like fetching a trolley for a laser, and equally importantly, the competitors who turn out and give you a race. Maybe we don't always use the word 'thank' but it's good to say something positive, like 'it was good to see you on the water today'. Or 'I enjoyed our race'. There's plenty of events which could do with a few more competitors, making them feel valued for more than their entry fee might help? There's other ways of showing your support than muttering 'thanks' as you leg it for the bar, like helping pack up the marks or whatever, giving people a had to roll their sails or even just spending time to chat with the volunteers etc instead of rushing off. |
Posted By: Sheetpuller
Date Posted: 14 Jul 23 at 8:20pm
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What a weird question. Why wouldn't you thank anybody for volunteering? The simple fact that they are there and volunteering means that they aren't somewhere else doing something for themselves. I'll ask you an equally silly question in return; What would stop you from thanking them? What downsides do you foresee? ------------- I'm not arguing. I'm explaining why I'm right. Merlin Rocket 3545 - 'Smooth Operator' Sprint 15 1342 - 'Still Crazy' |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 15 Jul 23 at 5:41pm
Personally I don't see any downside. Here's a reply I posted to someone else earlier.
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Posted By: Riv
Date Posted: 16 Jul 23 at 10:30am
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This is an interesting discussion because it affects the basis for most club activities. Eric said earlier " Firstly 'duties' are not the same as 'volunteering'. club duties' are part of the deal you make when you join a club or take part in the activities or whatever they do at your club. It's part of the cost of being in the club going sailing etc etc. Volunteering is when you do something for no direct return, like working in a charity shop, conservation work or whatever" Is it possible for a member to volunteer given the above description? All members who assist with any club activity get something back for it, continuation of the club, exercise, socialising, improved mental health, skills, etc, etc. I "volunteered" for five years with out local sailability group and stopped because they removed all the fringe benefits in the name of safety and corporate image. Thus I now realise that I was not volunteering there, I was doing duties, and expecting a return. I help to run my local sailing club (we don't race much) I get benefits from that activity, therefore these are duties. (I'm the Bosun, Dinghy park organiser and run the club Whatsapp group) I think the concept of Duties needs a re-brand, I'm going to give it some thought. ------------- Mistral Div II prototype board, Original Windsurfer, Hornet built'74. |
Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 16 Jul 23 at 11:26am
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You can do “duties” voluntarily. The way I look at it, our sport exists due to people putting back what we take out. Often this is a bit back ended in our sailing careers. There are some people who go though life not volunteering for the delivery part of the sport. This used to make me quite cross, I am now more relaxed and recognise that it is probably best that they don’t volunteer for something that they are unsuited. If we relied on people doing stuff for money then the participation costs would probably be unsustainable. I still get quite vexed by active sailors opting out of the club system completely and sailing as RYA, but that is a well trodden argument on the forum. ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: eric_c
Date Posted: 16 Jul 23 at 2:03pm
I wouldn't be criticising a 'volunteer' for being swayed by a few fringe benefits. A lot of the 'volunteers' at my club get benefits from the club such as their kids get training, they might get some free kit or be allowed the odd jolly in a safety boat. In a small club, any volunteers who reduce the need for sailors to do duties are much appreciated. Like a lot of clubs, if we run an event, a lot of us volunteer to run the event, and we get the benefit of the profit from the event keeping our subs down.
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Posted By: The Q
Date Posted: 17 Jul 23 at 5:38pm
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My club requires one duty day a year which I did in May. Rescue boat driver, or crew. Tea bar assistant.
Yesterday, I volunteered for rescue boat duty Driver every morning of regatta week. 31st July - 4th August at Horning SC. The only benefit is free tea or coffee on duty, that wouldn't sway my decision. Neither does it sway my decision, volunteering at the Radar Museum https://www.radarmuseum.co.uk/ ------------- Still sailing in circles |
Posted By: Paramedic
Date Posted: 18 Jul 23 at 7:20am
This becomes self perpetuating. A sailor active on the circuit ends up doing more duties at their club than they do sailing there so they leave and sail under RYA or join for a winter membership only. This means everyone else has to cover another duty. Repeat 10x (I've seen this happen and decimate what was one of the best active racing clubs in the region) and the normal club racer/dinghy sailor ends up having a duty every 6 weeks. Many clubs now also have an influx of paddle board and model boat sailors and have not yet squared the circle of how they can contribute to the main reason for the club's existence - dinghy sailing (Not just racing). Clubs are also scared that if they ask the paddle board fraternity to do duties they will just move elsewhere to a club that hasn't grasped the nettle yet.
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Posted By: davidyacht
Date Posted: 18 Jul 23 at 3:08pm
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Maybe a bit old fashioned but it is nice to consider sailors on the open circuit as representing their home club. Ref. The paddle boarders … take the money, but don’t allow them to get control of the club. I suspect the model boating thing will come and go pretty rapidly … we had a boom at the backend of lockdown, now the Dragonflites are consigned to decorating living rooms. ------------- Happily living in the past |
Posted By: H2
Date Posted: 18 Jul 23 at 3:31pm
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I know of a number of top sailors that are members of multiple clubs for various reasons; they just buy out their duties for practicality. Personally I have no issue here, the clubs offer the option and people pay; I suspect it is a very small number of people in reality. Having been a member of a number of clubs and served as a committee member at one of them I have had some insights into various models. My current club has a large membership of sailors as well as non sailing members. The non-sailors are involved in swimming, SUP, paddle boards etc and they also help out with duties which means as a sailor I only have to do 1 duty per year - great!! Interestingly the club is very clear that it is a sailing club so sailing takes preference and non-sailing activities (i.e. swimming) is only allowed early / late in the day before anyone wants to sail. Seems to work really well and everyone is happy. ------------- H2 #115 (sold) H2 145 OK 2082 |
Posted By: Sussex Lad
Date Posted: 19 Jul 23 at 11:07am
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.....another thing that may discourage volunteers is indiscrete badmouthing of volunteers skills. We may have all done it at times, it's certainly prevalent in a lot of sports clubs. Eliminating it completely in a male dominated, competitive environment is probably impossible......but it can be discouraged. The reasons folk do it are complex but one of the main reasons is to show off about skills allegedly possessed by the perpetrator.......Judgements made about others skill levels are natural and useful......it's when they are voiced negatively to an audience (usually one per week so the offender thinks they're being discrete but by the end of the year they've told everybody) that they can become very, very destructive. That combined with a lack of thank you's........and presto, volunteers that dread their duties, particularly those volunteers that have had less experience. |